Belarus leader visits Russia to secure support amid protests

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with top officials of country's security ncies in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Throughout unrest, he has rejected any concessions, has repeatedly accused Belarus' western neighbors of preparing to overthrow his government and has made shows of aggressive defiance, including striding with an automatic rifle across grounds of his presidential residence. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with top officials of country's security ncies in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Throughout unrest, he has rejected any concessions, has repeatedly accused Belarus' western neighbors of preparing to overthrow his government and has made shows of aggressive defiance, including striding with an automatic rifle across grounds of his presidential residence. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

 Belarus’ authoritarian president visited Russia Monday in a bid to secure more loans and political support, as demonstrations against extension of his 26-year rule entered ir sixth week.

Alexander Lukashenko’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Black Sea resort of Sochi come a day after an estimated 150,000 people flooded streets of Belarusian capital, demanding Lukashenko’s resignation. Interior Ministry said 774 people were arrested in Minsk and or cities of Belarus for holding unsanctioned rallies on Sunday.

Protesters in Belarus have dismissed Lukashenko’s reelection for a sixth term in Aug. 9 vote as rigged. He has dismissed protesters as Western puppets and rejected demands from United States and European Union to conduct a dialogue with opposition.

In a bid to win Moscow’s support, 66-year-old former state farm director has tried to cast protests as an effort by West to isolate Russia, which sees neighbor as a key bulwark against NATO and a major conduit for energy exports to Europe.

Russia and Belarus have a union treaty envisaging close political, ecomic and military ties, but y often have engd in acrimonious disputes. Before election, Lukashenko has repeatedly accused Kremlin of pressing Belarus to abandon its independence.

But with United States and European Union criticizing election as neir free r fair and readying a pack of sanctions, Lukashenko w has to rely squarely on Russia’s support.

Despite frictions in past, Kremlin abhors prospect of public protests forcing resignation of nation’s leader, fearing it could embolden Putin’s critics at home.

Putin quickly congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election and promised to send Russian police to Belarus if protests re turn violent, ting that re is need for that yet.

Moscow has also signaled it’s ready to discuss restructuring of Belarus’ $1 billion debt to Russia, a key issue in Monday’s talks between Putin and Lukashenko.